OCH named regional vaccination site

Last week, Gov. Andy Beshear designated Ohio County Healthcare as one of the 28 new regional vaccine sites under the state’s new vaccination infrastructure plan.

“This is an important next step in protecting some of the most vulnerable in our community,” said Blaine Pieper, OCH CEO. “Over the last six weeks, we have administered over 1,400 initial and booster doses to the 1a phase of healthcare workers, first responders and other community partners. We are thankful that we can now begin to offer that same level of protection to additional community members in the 1b and 1c populations. This is an important next step in stemming the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

This announcement brings the total number of vaccination sites to 291 across the commonwealth.

“There is now a provider that has vaccines close to where everybody lives in the commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “There are some areas where you might have to drive just a little bit further, but we continue to add new sites for greater convenience. In many ways, we wish you could just call one number to sign up, but we are building for the future so there will be many sites available when vaccine supply increases to what we need.”

The regional sites are meant to be able to handle high capacities and service a larger area. The state’s goal is that no one drives more than a county away for a vaccine.

The regional sites are set up to provide a combined 250,000 shots a week but are also contingent on the supply the commonwealth receives from the federal government.

CeCe Robinson, OCH community relations director, said the Kentucky Hospital Association advocated on the hospital’s behalf, and hospital officials worked with the governor’s office and the Kentucky Department of Health. Robinson said the region’s county judge-executives also spoke on the need for a regional vaccination site on a rural level.

“With the rural nature of our community, we were able to become designated as a regional vaccination site,” Robinson said. “Because one community over can sometimes be a significant impediment for some of our most vulnerable to be vaccinated.”

Ohio County will receive weekly allocations of 300 vaccines as supplies are available for the first four weeks and then 600 doses in order to offer boosters to those who previously received their first vaccine dose.

Individuals who have been placed on the waiting list will receive information, including the date and time of their appointment. Robinson said every effort will be made to schedule appointments in the order that they were initially received but asks that people be patient through the process.

Online scheduling is also anticipated to be made available in the coming weeks.

Citizens of the surrounding counties are encouraged to call 270-215-9082 to be added to the wait list or register online at OCHcares.com. Individuals in the 1c phase are welcome to register with the understanding that priority scheduling will be given to the 1b population.